Handle-bar for bicycles



Patented Uct. 4, |898.

No. suma.

F. W. H. WEISHAUPT.

HANDLE BAR FOR BICYCLES.

(Application Bled Mar. 6, 1897.)

3 Sheets-Sheet I.

(No Model.)

"m: NoRRls mais no. PHoYnLlmo, wAsHmG'rovf. u. c

- N6. 611,668. Patented out. 4, |698.

F. W. H. WEISHAUPT. Y

HANDLE BAH FOR BICYCLES.

Q5 (Application med mr. e, 1897.

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

HML-S O' wguonnls Plrins no.. Pnorapmof. wAsNxNoToN. n: c.

No. 6l|,668. Paented Oct. 4, |898. F. W. H. WEISHAUPT.

HANDLE BAR FDR BIGYCLES.

(Application filed Mar. 6, 1897.)

(No Model.) 3 Sheats-Sheet 3.

69A 58 `72 l n ZO I .J-u :www /sz l L r 1 I l T .1 68/ l 36 rf m-"wu:

7 Ill/l g En r w A ,a gy, www., 1^ 4 Figl @ dm 1 5s Nrrnn STATESFREDERICK VILLIAM IIENRY VEISIIAUPT,` OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

HANDLE-BAR Fon BICYCLES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 611,668, dated October4, 1898.

pplication tiled March 6, 1897.

T0 @ZZ 1071/0791, t may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERICK WILLIAM HENRY WRISHAUPT, a citizen of theUnitedy States, residing at Chicago, in the lcounty of Cook and State ofIllinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inHandle-Bars for Bicycles and Similar Vehicles, of which the following isa full and complete specification, such as will enable those skilled inthe art to which it appertains to make and use the same. l

This invention relates to the handlebars and the grips or handles ofbicycles and similar vehicles and the object thereof is to provideimprovements in this class of devices whereby the haddle-bar of avehicle of this class may be turned and adjusted to any desired anglewith reference to its support and whereby the grips or handles may alsobe turned and adj usted to any desired angle with reference to thehandle-bar.

My improvement is particularly adapted to curved handle-bars; and theinvention is fully disclosed in the following specification, of whichthe accompanying drawings form a part, in which Figure 1 is adiagrammatic view showing one form of my improved handle-bar and themethod of connecting the same with its supports and showing the grips orhandles in a different position; Fig. 2, a section on the line 2 2 ofFig. 3, showingthe means by which the handle-bar is connected with itssupports and showing the same locked in position; Fig. 3, a similarsection on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1; Fig. 4, a sectional plan view of apart of the construction shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 5, an end view of adetail of the construction; Fig. 6, a section on the line 6 6 of Fig. 4;Fig. 7, a side View of a detail of the construction; Fig. S, a plan viewthereof; Fig. 9, a section on the line 9 9 of Fig. 1; Fig. 1G, alongitudinal section showing the means by which one of the grips orhandles are connected with the handle-bar and the grips unlocked readyto be turned, said view being also a section on the line 10 10 of Fig.11; Fig. 11, a longitudi-` nal section on the line 11 11 of Fig. 10;Fig. 12, a plan View of a detail of the construction shown in Figs. 10and 11; Fig. 13, a side View of another detail of said construction;Fig. 14:, a plan view thereof; Fig. 15, an 4end view Serial No. 623,315.(No model.)

of another'detail of the construction shown in Figs. 2 and 3 on anenlarged scale; Fig. 16, a transverse section thereof, and Fig. 17 anendview of another detail of said. construction.

In the drawings forming part of this speciiication the like parts of myimprovement are designated by the same numerals of reference in each ofthe views, and in said drawings I have shown at 20 the tubular rod ofthe forward part of the frame of a bicycle or similar vehicle, throughwhich the stem of the forward fork passes, and `said stem is shown at 2lin Fig. 9, and in the practice of my invention I provide, referencebeing made to Figs. 1 to 3, inclusive, a tubular hub 22, which passesthrough a coupling-head 23, which is provided at one side with a tubularextension 24, with which is connected a tubular rod 25, which isprovided at its lower end with longitudinal side slots 26,through whichis passed a pin or bolt 27, which also passes through the tubular stem21 of the tubular head 2O of the frame of the vehicle, as shown in Fig.9. This construction is intended for connecting the handle-bar with thevehicle; but my invention is not limited to this form of construction,and any suitable device or devices may be employed for connecting thesupport of the handle-bar with the tubular head 2O of the vehicle-frame.

The tubular hub 22 is provided near each end with anoutwardly-directed'iiange or rim 28, the perimeter of which isscrew-threaded, and said tubular hub is also provided around each endwith gear-teeth 29, and connected with each end of said tubular hub is acap 30, which is provided with an inwardly-directed iiange or rim 31, onwhich is formed an annular shoulder or projection 32, and the cap orhead 30 at each end is held in Aplace on the tubular head by an annularband 33, which is provided at its outer end with an inwardly-` directedannular iiange or rim 34, which engages with the annular shoulder orprojection on the flange or rim of the cap or head 30, and said annularband 33 is screw-threaded at its `inner end, so as to engage with thescrewthread on the flange or rim 28, formed on the tubular head 22,`andin practice the inner end of said annular band 33 at `theend of saidtubular head is preferably closed by an IOO annular plate 35, which isbest shown in Figs. 15 and 16, and which is composed of two separatesimilar parts, as shown in Fig. l5, said separate parts being set into agroove formed in the inner end of said annular band, as shown at 36.

The flanges or rims 31 on the caps 30 are provided on their inner wallswith an annular row of teeth 37, as shown in Fig. 5, and these teeth areadapted to engage with the teeth 29, formed on the ends of the tubularhub 22, this construction being best shown in Figs. 5 and 6, and passingcentrally through the hub 22 is an oblong frame 38, consisting of twosimilar channel-plates 39, between which are mounted a plurality ofgears 40, four of which are preferably employed, each of these gearsbeing provided with trunnions which pass through corresponding holes oropenings 41 in said plate, as clearly shown in Figs. 2, 3, 7, and 8, andthe side plates 39 of the frame 38, in which the gears 40 are mounted,are projected at each end and pass through corresponding slots oropenings 41, formed in the caps 30, said slots or openings beingconnected by a central opening, as shown at 42 in Fig. 5.

My improved handle-bar, as shown in Fig. 1, consists of two similarcurved parts 43, and in practice I mount on the end of each partadjacent to the support thereof a tubular sleeve 44, in the outer endsof which are formed slots or openings 45, and these sleeves areconnected with the separate sections of the handle-bar by pins or boltswhich pass through holes or openings 46, formed in the outer ends ofsaid tubular sleeves or in any desired manner, and mounted in the innerend of each of said sleeves is a cross-head or plug 47, on each of whichis formed a circular gear-head 48, which projects in line with the gears40, mounted in the oblong frame 38, which passes through the tubularhead 22, and these circular gear-heads 48 are connected with the endextensions or projections 51 of the channel-plates 39 of Vthe frame 38by means of shafts or bolts 52, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, and areadapted to operate in connection with the end gears 40, as will bereadily understood. The oblong frame 38, which passes through thetubular sleeve 22, is also provided at each side thereof and adjacent toeach end with spring-plates 53, which are secured thereto and the freeends of which are adapted to bear on the caps`30, as clearly shown inFigs. 3 and 6, and the springs 53 are also clearly shown in Figs. 7 and8. The operation of this form of construction will be readily understoodfrom the foregoing description, when taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings and the following statement thereof.

The oblong frame 38, which passes through the tubular hub 22, is free toturn in said hub, and the caps 30 will also turn therewith, as will bereadily understood, and this operation maybe accomplished whenever theteeth 37,

which are formed on the flanges or rims 31 of the caps 30, are not inengagement with the teeth 29 on the end of the tubular hub, and thisconnection between said teeth may be broken whenever desired by simplyadj Listing the bands 33, and this may be done by hand. It willtherefore be seen that the supports of the handle-bar or the separatesections thereof are free to turn in the tubular hub 22, and saidhandle-bar may therefore be turned into any desired position in order toraise or lower the outer ends of the separate sections thereof, and itwill be apparent that the said handle-bar may be locked in positionwhenever necessary by manipulating the bands 33, so that the teeth onthe flanges or rims 3l of the caps 30 will engage with the teeth 29 onthe ends of the tubular hub It will be understood that the springs 53,secured to the oblong frame 38, operate to force the caps 30 outwardly,and that the band 33 may be manipulated so as to draw said capsinwardly, and when the said caps are drawn inwardly to their innermostposition the teeth on the flanges or rims thereof will engage with thoseon the end of the tubular hub, this position of the parts being clearlyshown in Figs. 2 and 3; but when said bands are manipulated so as toallow the springs 53 to force the caps 30 outwardly these teeth will notengage, as will be readily understood.

In Fig. 4the caps 30, or one of them, is shown in its outermostposition, and in this position the teeth on the flange or rim thereof donot engage with those on the tubular hub 22, while in Figs. 2 and 3 saidcaps are shown in their innermost position and the teeth thereon, or onthe flanges or rims 31 thereof, engage with those 011 the tubular hub22.

In Figs. l0 and 11 I have shown the method which I employ for connectingthe grips or handles 55 with the ends of the separate sections 43 of thehandle-bar, and for this pur pose I employ tubular sleeves 56, which areof the same form and construction and connected with the ends of theseparate sections of the handle-bar in the same manner as the tubularsleeve 44, and in each of' these tubular sleeves 56 is mounted across-head 57, which in all respects is equal to the cross-head or plug47 in the tubular sleeve 44, and each of these cross-heads 57 is alsoprovided with a circular gear-head 58, and in this form of constructionI employ a tubular head 59, which takes the place of the tubular hub 22,by means of which the handle-bar is connected with the support thereof.The head 59 is provided at its inner end with an annular row of teeth60, and the cap 61, which is similar to the caps 30, hereinbeforedescribed, is provided with an annular inwardly-directed flange or rim62, on the inner surface of which, adjacent to the cap, is formed anannular row of gearteeth 63, and the tubular head 59 is provided with anannular flange or rim 64, which is screw-thread- IOO IOS

IIO

- at its outer end with a tubular extension 06,

on which the handle or grip is mounted, and secured therein is an oblongframe 67, consisting of two similar channel-plates G8, to which aresecured springs 69, which bear on the cap 6l, and mounted between theside plates 68 of the frame 67 is a pinion or gear wheel 70, which isadapted to engage with the circular gear-head 58, which is formed on orsecured to the cross-head 57 in the sleeve 56, and the said cap 61 isprovided with a centralopening 61, through which the oblong frame 67passes. Theinner end ot' the frame 67, consisting of the channel-platesGS and in which the gear-wheel 70 is mounted, is held in position in thetubular head 59 by a disk or plate 7l, which is shown in detail in Fig.17, and this disk or plate is provided with a central oblong opening 72,into which the end of the frame 67 its and is secured, and the oppositeend of said frame or the side plates thereof project into the end o fthe sleeve 56 and are connected therewith by a bolt or shaft 7 3, whichpasses through the circular gear-head 58.

A plan view of one of the sleeves 56 is given in Fig. 12, and in thisview it will be seen that at each side of the circular gear-head 58 areslots 74, into which the ends of the channel-plates 67, which aredesignated by the reference-numeral 75, project, and this constructionis clearly shown in Figs. 10 to 14, inclusive.

In Figs. 10 and l1 I have shown the cap G1 in its innermost position,and in this position the edges of the openings 61 will be disengagedfrom the gear-wheels 70 and the same may be rotated in conjunction withthe gear-head 58; but when the cap 6l is at :its outermost position theedges of the openings (51 are so proportioned that they will engage theteeth of the said gear-wheels 70 and prevent the rotation of the same,thereby locking the grips in any desired position.

By means of this construction it will be apparent that the grips orhandles 55, together with the tubular heads 59, may be turned on theirsupports when the cap 6l is in its outermost position, this operationbeing accomplished by reason of the fact that the cap v 61 cannot turnby reason of its connection with the frame 67, which is composed of thechannel-plates GS, but when said cap is in its innermost position thegrips or handles can be turned and can also beturned on their supports.

It will also be apparent that the grips or handles maybe held at anydesired angle to the ends of the handle-bar or the separate sectionsthereof, two different positions be ing shown in Fig. 1, and thehandle-bar itself may be raised or lowered, or the ends thereof turnedeither up or down, and it may also be turned through a complete circle,so that the ends thereof will project forwardly instead of backwardly,and it will thus be seen that I provide means for adjusting the positionofthe separate sections of the handlebar forwardly and backwardly, andalso for turning the same, and that the handles or grips may also beadjusted in any desired angle with reference to the ends of the separatesections of the handle-bar, and may also be turned in their supports.

The various positions which the separate sections of the handle-bar andthe handles or grips may th us be caused to assume are praeticallyunlimited in number, and it will be apparent that changes in andmodifications of the construction herein described may be made withoutdeparting from the spirit of my invention or sacrificing its advantages.

Having fully described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent 1. In a device for connecting the handlebars of avelocipede' with the steering-post, the hub at the upper end of thesteering-post, longitudinally-movable caps at the ends of said hub, thehandle-bar sections pivotally supported with relation to said hub andgeared together to swing in unison, and means carried by said caps andengaging the connecting-gear of the handle-bar sections whereby theswinging movement of the latter is controlledv and locked by themovement of the caps.

2. The combination with the steering-post of a velocipede provided witha transverse hub at its upper end, of the handle-bar consisting of twosections rotatably and pivotally supported with relation to said hub,said sections being geared together to move in unison by means of aconnected chain or gearing meshing with gear upon the inner end of thehandle-bar sections, longitudinally movable and rotatable caps upon theends of said hub carrying means for engaging the connecting-gearing ofthe handle-bar sections, and means for operating said caps in theirlongitudinal and rotatable movement and for locking the same inconnection withA the hub.

3. The combination with the steering-post of'a velocipede provided witha transverse hub at its upper end, rotatable and longitudinally-movablecaps upon the ends of said hub, and means for locking said caps againstrotation, of the frame carried by and rotatable with said caps,handle-bar sections pivoted to the ends of said frame, gearing betweensaid handle-bar sections mounted upon said frame, and said gearing beingsituated in the path of said longitudinally-movable caps so as to becontrolled thereby.

4. The combination with the steering-post of a velocipede provided witha transverse hub at its upper end, longitudinally-movable and rotatablecaps carried by said hub, interfrtting teeth upon the caps and hub thatare caused to engage or disengage by a lon- IOO IIO

gitudinal movement of said caps, means for moving said capslongitudinally, a frame carried by and rotatable with said caps,handlebar sections pivoted to the ends of said frame, gearing betweensaid handle-bar sections carried by said frame and situated in the pathof said caps to be controlled by the longitudinal movement thereof.

5. The combination with the steering-post of a velocipede provided witha transverse hub at its upper end, longitudinally-movable and rotatablecaps upon the ends of said hub, rims having screw-threaded engagementwith the hub and a swivel engagement with said caps for moving them inone direction, locking means between said cap and hub controlled bythe'longitudinal movement of said caps, of the frame carried by androtatable with said caps, springs on said frame bearing against the capsand moving them in opposition to the movement caused by said rims,handlebar sections pivoted to the end of said frame and gearing betweensaid handle-bar sections carried by said frame and situated in the pathof said cap to be controlled thereby.

G. In a device for connecting the handlebars of a velocipede with thesteering-post, the hub upon the steering-post, thelongitudinally-movable and rotatable caps upon said hub carrying pivotedhandle-bar sections the swinging and rotation of said handle-barsections being controlled by the longitudinal movement of said caps,interiitting teeth upon said caps and hub, a flange upon each of saidcaps, rims having screw-threaded engagement with the hub and havinganges engaging said lianges of the caps for moving said caps in onedirection, and springs for moving said caps in the opposite direction.

7. In a device for connecting the handlebars of a velocipede with thesteering-post, the transverse hub at the upper end of the steering-post,the frame rotatably mounted therein and provided with longitudinally-extending end plates, the handle-bar sections pivotallyconnected to said end plates, gear upon the inner end of said handle-barsections, a train of gearing extending between said handle-bar sectionsand extending longitudinally within the frame and meshing with the gearupon the ends of said sections, and devices adjustably carried by thehub and provided with means projecting at the end of the frame and intoengagement with said gearing and said frame to prevent movement on thepart of said connected members.

8. The herein-described means for connecting the handle-bar of a bicycleor other vehicle with its support, said handle-bar being composed of twoseparate sections; said means consisting of a tubular hub which issecured in a tubular support, movable caps connected with the ends ofsaid hub, an oblong frame consisting of side plates mounted in said hub,and projecting through said caps, said frame and said caps being adaptedto turn, gearwheels mounted in said frame, and adapted to operate inconnection with circular gears connected with the inner ends of theseparate sections of the handle-bar, said circular gears being mountedbetween the ends of the side plates of said frame, and means for movingsaid caps outwardly and inwardly, consisting of springs secured to theends of said frame, and adapted to force said caps outwardly, screwthreaded bands mounted on screwthreaded flanges formed on said hub, andprovided at their outer ends with annular inwardly-directed flanges, andsaid caps being provided with inwardly directed rims on which are formedoutwardly-directed annular shoulders, and said rims being provided withinwardly-directed teeth which are adapted to operate in connection withoutwardlydirected teeth formed on the ends of said hub, substantially asshown and described.

ln testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed myname, in presence of the subscribing witnesses, this 22d day ofFebruary, 1897.

FREDERlGK WILLIAM HENRY WEISHAUIT. Witnesses M. J. BUSCH, I. D.APPLETON.

